Chandigarh: A spell of rain brought much-needed respite from the searing heat on Tuesday, dragging the city’s maximum temperature down by a sharp seven degrees after several days of hovering around the 40°C mark.The maximum temperature dropped from 40.2°C on Monday to 33.8°C on Tuesday. While Monday’s reading was three degrees above normal, Tuesday’s was three degrees below normal.In contrast, night temperatures rose. The minimum temperature climbed by four degrees to 24.8°C from Monday’s 20.8°C, settling two degrees above normal.The city recorded 1.6 mm of rainfall. Weather conditions began changing in the early hours, with cloud cover, rain and strong winds sweeping across the city. After days of uninterrupted sunshine, skies remained cloudy for most of the day, aiding the drop in daytime temperatures.Looking ahead, the meteorological department has forecast a partly cloudy sky with thunderstorm, lightning and rain for Wednesday and Thursday. Friday is expected to remain partly cloudy. After a brief break, similar weather conditions are likely to return on Saturday, while Sunday is forecast to be partly cloudy. So far, 75 mm of rain has been recorded during the ongoing summer season, which began on March 1—130.8% above normal.The shift in weather is expected to bring further relief from the heat in the coming days.“Temperatures are likely to fall tomorrow and the day after. In the first week of May, temperatures are expected to rise again,” said Surender Paul, director of the Chandigarh Meteorological Department.April, he said, has seen sharp fluctuations. “From 24.2°C on April 8 to 40°C on April 18 and now down to 33.8°C on April 28, the month has witnessed major swings.”“Abrupt rises and falls in temperature are being seen. Overall, this is due to global changes. Sudden shifts in wind patterns—sometimes westerlies, sometimes easterlies—along with sporadic rain, have contributed to April’s volatile weather,” he added.
